The evolution of light-emitting diode (LED) is already changing homes with each installation, but new digital systems are in development to make LED lighting a leading source of wireless connectivity.

Since its emergence almost a decade ago, LED lighting’s energy efficient, cost reducing, and aesthetically pleasing look has boosted the British lighting market by 44% from 2013-2017. This is just the beginning as energy companies are striving to make the luminaires a figurehead in making the world technologically smarter.

In 2016, General Manager of Smart Cities at AT&T, Mike Zeto, told the BBC that he saw the evolution of smart lighting becoming a “game changer in helping communities solve problems” and just two years later his prediction is coming to fruition.

Dutch tech company, Philips, are using the flexible composition of LED lights to make a fifth-generation cellular technology which will see the focus of wireless networks stray away from devices to things.

Peter Duine, Philips Global Product Manager, told the Business Reporter that LED lighting is a mounting fixture for different sorts of sensors that can help prevent calamities within neighbourhoods.

“In a city, the lights will provide a fabric to carry information. The city could use that fabric in a response to server weather. Sensors on a street pole can monitor whether there is water on the street in order to stop cars crashing,” he said.

The technology tasked to making it all happen is the Philips Advanced Xitanium SR LED driver – which is currently in development. Once up and running, the driver will be able to collect in-depth, quality data to share with the user.

This technology is set to optimise transport systems, manage air quality, improve lighting usage and monitor safety.